Stalemate Over EU's €1.8 Trillion Budget Framework (politico.eu)

• Budget ceiling set at 1.8 trillion euros
• Deep division between net contributors and recipient nations
• Rising pressure to prioritize strategic defense and tech sovereignty

"Negotiations for the next €1.8 trillion EU multi-annual budget have reached a critical impasse, as identified by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the Cyprus summit. Member states are deeply divided over the allocation of funds, balancing traditional cohesion policies against emerging requirements for defense spending and industrial autonomy."